Water-wheel



(No M00181. I "2 Sheets- -Sheet 1. D', A. VAN KLEEK. WATER WHEEL.

No. 434,306. Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

wade/ow s (No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

D. A; VAN KLEEK.-

1 WATER WHEEL.

0.4s4,s06. Pa tentedAug. 12,1890.

wi tueowo UNITED STATES PATENT Friend DAVID AQ VAN KLEEK, OF PARDEE, KANSAS.

WATER-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,306, dated August 12, 1890.

Application tiled April 24, 1890. Serial No. 349,363. (No model.)

T at whom it may cor'wern:

Be it known that I, DAVID A. VAN KLEEK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pardee, in the county of Atchison and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVater-VVheels;

and I do, hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked ghereon, which form a part of this specifica- This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in water-wheels; and it consists in the construction and combination of the parts which make up the wheel, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a water-wheel constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the endless belt with the buckets attached. Fig. 4 is a detail .view showing the guides for the buckets.-

The frame of the Wheel is made up of two parallel sill-pieces, which are suitably connected to each other at their ends 'by trans verse beams a, and to these sill-pieces A A are secured a series of vertical beams B B, the opposite beams being connected to each other by transverse beams 12 and 1). Side pieces 0 are also attached to the vertical beams B, these side pieces being wider at their ends, so as to form with the buckets attached to the endless chain a contracted water-way, the upper portion of said water-Way being formed by bars or frame D, attached to the beams 19, and by removing the securing-pins this upper board D can be removed when it is desired to get access to the buckets.

E and F refer to transverse shafts, upon which are mounted disks having notched perforations with which the bars of the endlessbelt engage, and the transverse shaft F is our naled in the front beams 13, so as to be removable therefrom, while the shaft E is journaled in similar bearings carried at the ends of bars G. These bars G G are provided with slots and means for securing them to the upright beams B B, so as to be movable thereon, and adjacent to one end they are provided with recesses, in which are placed wedges f, so that by driving said wedges down the bars G can be moved so as to tighten the belt. The shafts may be geared or suitably connected to each other, though in practice it is only necessary to provide a single driving- Wheel.

The endless belt H is made up of a series of transverse boards, the ends of which are provided with loops which engage with bars I, which are provided at their ends with rollers 1;. The boards I are also provided near their ends with angle-plates k, the housing portions being secured to the upper faces of the boards I near their ends, while they have portions which project at right angles from said boards. Plates Z, bent at an angle, as shown, are secured to the boards I in any suitable manner to provide water-tight receptacles, and with the face of said boards form the buckets.

Angular guide-plates M. are secured to the vertical beams B B, and with the horizontal projecting portions thereof the rollers 2' engage to prevent the endless chain or belt of buckets being depressed by the weight and force of the water. At the forward end of the frame-work is secured a water-gate N, which can be opened and closed by turning the same. 4

In operation when the gate N is turned the water will flow from the race into the same and contacting with the buckets will fill the same and cause a rotation of the endless belt, not only by the weight of the water, but also utilize the force or momentum of the same, it being noted that the upper portions of the buckets are at an angle.

Should by constant use it become necessary to remove any one of the buckets, it can be readily accomplished and the chain shortened, and should by reason of long use the parts wear, by simply readjusting the bars G the wear can be taken up and the'belt made taut.

I am aware that prior to my invention it has been proposed to provide a water-wheel with an endless chain of buckets, and also with movable bearings for tightening the chain; and I do not, therefore, claim such construction broadly.

I claim.

1. The combination, in a water-wheel, of an endless chain of buckets mounted on pulleys, so that the buckets with which the water contacts will be downwardly-inclined, bars and links pivotallyconnecting said buckets to each other, said bars having rollers which contact with guides, together with vertical sides and top forming an inclined chamber contracted toward its lower end, and in which the upper portion of the endless chain moves, anda supply-gate located at the upper end of said chamber, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a water-wheel, of a frame work constructed substantially as shown, and provided with a water-way which converges toward the discharge-opening of a chain of buckets mounted on sprocketwheels attached to shafts, so that the buckets with which the water contacts will incline downwardly from the inlet to the outlet openings, together with vertical s des and topforming an inclined chamber contracted toward its lower end and in which the upper portion of the endless chain moves, and a supply-gate located at the upper end of said chamber, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with a water-wheel, an endless belt made up of a series of buckets construct-ed substantially shown, supporting-shafts having notched wheels over which the endless chain passes, slotted bars G G, secured removably to the frame and provided with bearings for one of the shafts, and wedges for adjusting the bars G, the parts being organized substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, in a water-wheel, of an inclined endless belt located within an upper casing contracted toward its lower end, as described, said belt being composed of a series of transverse boards provided with loops or straps pivotally connected by rods carrying rollers, angular end plates secured to the face of the boards, and transverse inclined plates with which the boards and angle-plates form buckets, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with a water-wheel constructed substantially as shown, a supporting-frame therefor made up of sill-pieces and vertical beams, inclined or wedge-shaped side pieces 0 C, and a removable top D, whereby a converging water-way above the buckets is provided, the inclined endless chain of buckets being provided with rollers, and guides with which said rollers contact, so that the buckets will not be depressed by the weight of the water, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAViD A. VAN KLEEK.

\Vitnesscs:

E. NELLIE TITSWORTH, EDNA G. TI'rswoRTi-I. 

